The Day the Sun Stood Still
Joshua 10:12–13
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.
Another extraordinary display of God’s omnipotence appears here as He enables Israel to take possession of the Promised Land.
The five Amorite kings gathered their armies and made war against Gibeon. Since the people of Gibeon had made a covenant with Joshua and Israel, they pleaded for help. The Lord responded with these reassuring words to Joshua:
“Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”
Confident in God’s promise, Joshua marched against the Amorite kings. Then, in the midst of battle, he made one of the boldest requests recorded in Scripture:
“Sun, stand still … Moon, stop.”
Astonishingly, the Lord granted his request. The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not set for about a whole day!
How was this miracle accomplished? Scripture does not tell us. Did the earth stop rotating? If so, how were the catastrophic consequences prevented? Human reasoning quickly reaches its limits.
Out of curiosity, I searched the internet about what would happen if the earth suddenly stopped rotating. One explanation stated:
“If Earth suddenly stopped rotating, everything unattached to the surface—including people, buildings, and the oceans—would fly eastward at the planet’s rotational speed!”
Whether that would happen or how exactly the miracle was accomplished is beside the point. The God who created the universe is not bound by the laws that govern it. The One who established those laws is fully able to suspend, overrule, or work beyond them whenever it pleases Him. Creation obeys its Creator.
God extended the daylight so Joshua and Israel could completely defeat their enemies. Arguably the longest day in history was a display of His sovereign power. What an awesome and almighty God is the Lord!